| There are many articles out there that discuss | | | | approximately under seven months. |
| how to discover a business coach. These articles | | | | Do not expect an out-of-the-box approach. This |
| describe where to find a coach and how to | | | | does not mean a business coach does not have a |
| determine which ones are right for you. The | | | | method or an underlying fundamental skill set they |
| articles also tell you what you can expect. Yet | | | | will use to build your success. A coach that cannot |
| there are few that tell you want not to expect, | | | | articulate clearly their methodology should not be |
| until now. | | | | hired. At the same time a coach that applies the |
| Selecting a business coach is a personal decision | | | | same "insert problem in slot A and get solution |
| that is going to take a financial investment and a | | | | from slot B" should be avoided at all costs. Yes, |
| time commitment from you and/or your team. | | | | there are common problems in all companies, but |
| Like all investments and commitments there are | | | | that does not mean your experience is the same |
| realistic expectations and not so realistic | | | | as your competitors or the shop on the corner. |
| expectations. Moreover there are just some | | | | Take for instance the recession. It is having an |
| things a business coach cannot deliver for you. So | | | | impact on businesses across the country and the |
| it is important that you know what not to expect | | | | world. Yet, how it effects the software industry |
| so that you can focus on maximizing your results. | | | | is different from how it effects the manufacturing |
| Here are five things not to expect from a | | | | industry. A coach understands this and applies the |
| business coach: | | | | tools necessary to help you solve your unique |
| Do not expect your coach to know everything. | | | | problems. |
| Each business, entrepreneur, and executive faces | | | | Do not expect your coach do it all for you. You |
| unique challenges to their business. A coach has to | | | | have to execute the agreed upon action plans |
| learn first what has gone right in the past and | | | | you and your business coach devise to place you |
| what has gone wrong. With that knowledge a | | | | on your path of success. Coaches build the |
| coach can determine what action plan will work | | | | conditioning and instill the fundamental skills in you |
| best to put you on the path to success. That | | | | so that you can rise to the occasion. Like in |
| does not mean the coach will pull perfection out | | | | sports where coaches do not take the field of |
| of their hats or peer into their crystal ball divining | | | | play, a business coach is not going to run your |
| the future. There will always be unknowns and | | | | business, lead your teams, or perform sales for |
| there are just some areas coaches do not have | | | | you. That is your role. |
| experience in. No one can know everything, even | | | | Do not expect to a "yes-man." A business coach |
| coaches. In fact if a coach says that they do... run! | | | | is there to be an objective observer of your |
| Do not expect an expensive investment. Business | | | | business and to hold you to the highest standards. |
| coaching is an affordable solution that costs less | | | | A business coach will challenge the conventional |
| than hiring a consultant and much less than | | | | wisdom. A business coach will ask you the tough |
| therapy. There are two reasons why this is the | | | | questions. All of this is for your benefit, the |
| case. First, a relationship with a business coach is | | | | benefit of your team, and a critical part to |
| built around a specific time frame and for a | | | | reaching your dreams. You can only grow by |
| specific problem. Your coach is not going to keep | | | | being challenged. You can only learn how tough |
| you engaged for an infinite amount of time. So | | | | you are by be being pushed. You will only learn |
| you do not have to worry about your coach | | | | your blind spots when you are placed in a |
| "living" with you. Second, your coach is there to | | | | different situation. It is an essential part of life, |
| provide solutions to the problems you have and | | | | just as it is an essential part of any business |
| not force a cookie-cutter solution or "discover" | | | | success. |
| new problems. Your investment costs in a | | | | A business coaching relationship is a rewarding |
| business coach can be predicted and are not | | | | one. Every great captain of industry had a |
| never ending. Data from a recent study | | | | mentor, a teacher, a coach that helped them |
| conducted by the International Coaching | | | | along their journey. Knowing what to expect and |
| Federation shows that the average coaching | | | | what not to expect makes coaching stronger for |
| engagement is under $5,000 and last | | | | both the coach and the coached. |